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WSDOT Begins 3-Week Study on Lower Snake River Dams by Allen Leister KEPR, November 20, 2024

The status of the Lower Snake River Dams has
become a hot-button issue across the nation.

COLUMBIA BASIN, WA. -- The Washington State Department of Transportation is conducting a study of road and rail transportation impacts and needs if the lower Snake River dams were removed and barges could no longer be used. People interested in learning more about the study can visit the online open house. The online open house will be available to the public from Friday, Nov. 15 through Friday, Dec. 6.

The first of four phases of the Lower Snake River Dam Transportation Study began in April 2024. During this phase, WSDOT is gathering and analyzing information about the movement of goods on barges, trucks, and trains. Community members can get background on the study and see how barges, trains, and trucks currently move products into and out of southeast Washington.

The status of the Dams has become a hot-button issue across the nation as the Federal and State governments weigh the environmental impacts of the dams compared to the energy production they provide. While the Biden Administration has pledged to assist Tribal communities restore fish habitats in their region, any breaching of the Lower Snake River Dams would require Congressional approval, something that experts say is unlikely to happen during the upcoming Trump Administration.